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Build one focused Gemini skill for each recurring task, give it clear instructions and only the reference files it needs, then select it for related work or let Gemini apply it when relevant. If you already use a Gem, you can continue editing it in Gemini’s web app for now; Google says Gems will transition to skills on a staggered schedule starting in November 2026 for personal accounts.
Choose between editing a Gem and creating a skill
Google’s Gemini Apps Help describes Gems as a way to create “specific and repeatable instructions for Gemini to follow.” Skills are also reusable instructions, but are organized as skill packages and are rolling out with account and feature limitations. They are not yet a full feature-for-feature replacement for Gems.
| What you are maintaining | How it is organized | How you reuse it |
|---|---|---|
| An existing Gem | Instructions plus optional Knowledge files attached in Gemini’s web app. | Open it under My Gems and give it a task-specific prompt. |
| A skill | Instructions in a skill, optionally packaged with reference files; file-based skills use a root-level SKILL.md. |
Select it with / or, on accounts with the updated shortcut, @. Enabled skills may also be used automatically when Gemini judges them relevant, and multiple skills can be combined. |
Skills are gradually rolling out. Google currently says they require a personal Google Account, an account holder aged 18 or older, and Keep Activity turned on; they are not yet available to work or school accounts. Google lists availability in Gemini mobile, the Mac app, and the Gemini web app. Availability and limitations may change as rollout continues.
Create and refine a Gem you already use
- In the Gemini web app, open Gems and choose New Gem.
- Give the Gem a name that makes its job obvious. Add instructions and, if useful, knowledge files, then save it. A Gem created on the web also appears in the Gemini mobile app and the Gemini side panel in Google Workspace.
- Write instructions around the actual recurring task. Google’s custom Gem guidance suggests four ingredients: persona, task, context, and format. Include the parts that help Gemini do this job reliably, such as the relevant background and the output format you expect.
- If you start with a short description, Gemini can expand it into instructions. Review and edit the generated text rather than assuming it is accurate.
- Try a representative request in the preview panel. Previewing does not save the Gem; click Save when you have finished editing.
- To use it, open it under My Gems and enter a prompt specific to the current task. Edit the Gem when its instructions or reference material needs to change.
For a reference document, use Knowledge → Add files. Google says a Drive file requires Keep Activity and a connected Google Workspace extension; the Gem uses the latest version of the Drive file and reflects later changes. You can add or remove files by editing the Gem. Turning off knowledge citations also turns off citations for uploaded files in Gem chats.
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Build a skill around a separate recurring task
Use a distinct skill when a workflow has its own trigger, instructions, or reference material. Keep its scope narrow enough that Gemini can tell when it applies—for example, a skill for turning meeting notes into action items is easier to reuse appropriately than one that tries to handle every kind of writing and analysis.
- Name it for the job. For file-based skills, use the required lowercase, hyphen-separated name in the
SKILL.mdmetadata. - Describe when it applies. Give Gemini a clear situation or request that should trigger the skill.
- Keep guidance task-specific. Include relevant context, steps, constraints, and examples of the expected output.
- Attach only useful references. Include files that materially help the task rather than unrelated background documents.
Google documents several ways to create a skill: Create with Gemini, a prefilled template, a blank or manual template, an upload, or a request in chat. For a file-based upload, include a root-level SKILL.md in a folder or ZIP. Optional reference files can travel with the skill. Google lists plain-text files, common code, configuration and web files, PDFs, and images among supported examples; binary Office formats such as .docx, .xlsx, and .doc are listed as unsupported. The complete uploaded package can be no larger than 100 MB. Scripts that require internet access and actions on external websites are not supported.
Reuse skills without making them apply everywhere
Invoke a skill explicitly with /, or use @ if the updated shortcut is available on your account. Gemini may also apply an enabled skill automatically when it judges it relevant, and more than one skill can be combined in a task. Keep each skill’s purpose and trigger precise so automatic use is more likely to match the work you intended.
Google currently documents a limit of up to 100 active skills. Skills work with some Connected Apps, but Google’s transition FAQ says they do not yet work with Canvas or Deep Research, among other features. Check the current Skills help page if a workflow depends on a particular app or feature.
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When a skill’s reference files change, upload the whole skill again with its reference files; updating only the instructions does not replace the packaged references. Manage skill activation and deletion from the Skills page. Deleting a skill cannot be undone, so deactivate it rather than deleting it if you may need it again.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Plan for the Gems-to-skills transition
Google’s current transition page gives different target months by account type. It says Gems and supported files will transition automatically to skills when Gems go away. You can also recreate a Gem as a skill earlier; to move its knowledge files manually, download them individually and upload them with the skill.
| Account type | Google’s stated Gems transition |
|---|---|
| Personal Google accounts | November 2026 |
| Workspace business, enterprise, and nonprofit accounts | March 2027 |
| Workspace education accounts | June 2027 |
These are Google’s currently stated transition months, not a guarantee that every account will switch on the same day. Check Google’s live transition page for updates, and do not assume that a skill feature available to a personal account is also available to a work or school account.
Quick Recap
Official Gemini guidance
- How to use Gems
- Tips for creating custom Gems
- Create & manage skills for Gemini Apps
- Google’s Gems-to-skills transition information
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